More than a game
My mother, in her response, mentioned something about âmy workâ. The friend burst into laughter at the idea that what I do could be classified as work. Now Iâm the first person to know how privileged and lucky I am to be doing what I do as a âjobâ but, just to prove that there actually is a bit of work involved, I would like to give you an insight into what it takes week to week to be an international footballer playing in the Championship.
Gone are the days when you could just turn up for training ten minutes beforehand, get a quick strapping, train for an hour and head home.
The modern game requires a lot more, and the older you get the more you need to do things in the right way off the pitch to stay in good condition and prolong your career.
On Monday morning our training starts officially at 10.30am on the pitch but I arrive into the training ground for 9am. That 90-minute period will consist of treatment from the physiotherapists/massage therapists before going into the gym to work on specific exercises for injury prevention and strengthening. Earlier in the season I had a bit of a problem with my Achilles so I have to work on that on a daily basis to prevent it recurring. From the time I wake up until we go out onto the grass I will have consumed about two litres of water to make sure Iâm well hydrated for training.
The Monday of this week was an especially significant one, since it was the first day that our new manager at Bolton, Dougie Freedman, took training, and everyone was eager to see what he had in store for us. The squad was split into two groups â the one that had played on the Saturday had an extended warm-down session while the other group, who hadnât played in the match, worked quite hard. This is very typical in the modern game as the body needs 48 hours to properly recover from a match. Our session was as sharp and intense as any Iâve had this season. The first thing that strikes me about the new manager is the standards he is setting right from the outset and I like what Iâm seeing.
After training finishes we drink our recovery shakes, which are vital to get into your system as soon as possible to help the body recover quicker. We all then head into a yoga class which will last about 45 minutes. After yoga itâs into the ice baths which most players hate, but I have to say I donât mind them. Then itâs shower, lunch and home.
Tuesday morning starts the same way with treatment and injury prevention work in the gym. This Tuesday, training was again very tough, but you always expect a hard session on a Tuesday as more often than not Wednesday is a day of rest. We then have a training session planned for 2pm in the gym. Each player will have his own individual programme designed to work on strengthening. In my case, itâs focused on my groins and Achilles, and itâs an ideal chance for the fitness and strengthening coaches to get some quality work in, knowing we will have the Wednesday to recover before training starts again on Thursday morning.
Fortunately, Wednesday was indeed a day off as, after two tough days, the body was in need of a rest, so a few of us went and played golf.
Later in the day, it was nice to hear the news that Mick McCarthy was back in football at Ipswich, a club I know very well from my loan there last season. I think this is a very good appointment and have no doubt Mick will do very well at a club which is overdue some success.
At Thursdayâs training, the manager worked a lot on tactics, both on how he wants us to play and how we are going to deal with todayâs opponents, Cardiff City. After training, again it was straight into yoga. This is something the new manager has made compulsory, as under the old regime it was optional. Itâs clear from the first few days the new boss is a big believer in sports science. After yoga, it was into the ice bath again. Itâs very important the closer you get to a match day that you get a lot of rest and put the right things in your body, firstly to recover from the training youâve done and secondly to get you ready for the match. Diet is so important in the modern game and although I get a treat every now and again, in the main I eat a well-balanced, healthy diet.
One other change to the usual routine this week was the announcement of the latest Ireland squad and it was nice to see Wes Hoolahan named in the panel for the upcoming friendly against Greece. He has only one cap so far and I know how much this will mean to him as I didnât make my debut until I was 28. Wes has been a very consistent performer for Norwich over the last few seasons and a big reason why theyâve done so well.
On Friday mornings I donât tend to do as much work in the gym and just get deep massage and have a good stretch to limber up before training starts. Our session is kept to a minimum and we work on set-pieces in advance of the game. Itâs then into the ice baths, recovery drinks and a good lunch before I head home for an afternoon on the sofa. On a Friday evening I get a masseur out to the house to make sure Iâm in the best possible shape for the game the next day.
That brings us to today and, while youâre reading this, Iâll be up and getting tucked into my bowl of porridge for breakfast watching âSaturday Kitchenâ. Itâs a big week for us with Cardiff today, Leicester on Tuesday and Blackpool away next Saturday. Iâm hopeful we can get our season up and running and, today especially, give a good performance in the new managerâs first game in charge.
